VIDEO: Bail denied for men charged after drug raids

UPDATE 4.10PM: THREE of four people charged after drug raids conducted in the Fraser Coast on Tuesday have been denied bail.

The fourth defendant did not apply for bail.

Warren William Peter Lohman, Justan Anthony Jukes and Narayan Rodwell were all charged with one count of drug trafficking.

Magistrate Graeme Tatnell refused bail for each on the grounds, saying he felt there was significant evidence to suggest they were involved in a trafficking operation.

Susan River man Dean Grant O'Donnell who has been charged with 13 offences including drugs and weapons offences did not apply for bail.

The court heard that 2kg of methyl amphetamine, also known as ice, was seized at the Susan River property where O'Donnell and Rodwell live.

The four are set to appear in court on April 14.

UPDATE 11.45AM: POLICE have taken more than 100,000 hits of ice off Fraser Coast streets after a lengthy investigation into an alleged Fraser Coast drug ring with suspected bikie links.

Eight people have been charged with 32 offences after early morning raids were conducted throughout the region on Tuesday, following an investigation that spanned more than a year.

Police seized more than 2kg of ice, 400ml of methyl amphetamine, a number of guns and $15,000 in cash.

Those charged will appear in court today.

2kg of ice and guns seized in police raids:
Maryborough Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant David Briese talks about raids which saw 2kg of ice, seven firearms and $15,000 cash seized. Eight people were charged and some and believed to have links to the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

Maryborough Criminal Investigation Detective Senior Sergeant David Briese said police believed the region's drug culture was responsible for a number of violent offences in the last 12 months.

"So the seizure of drug property that was taken yesterday we certainly believe this will assist the community in becoming safer," he said.

Snr Sgt Briese said from a local perspective it was believed the people charged were "at the top" of the region's drug trade, and there were suspected links to the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

The drug bust comes just days after police told the Chronicle there was not outlaw motorcycle gang activity in the area.

"While we don't have a chapter set up any more in the area that does not mean by any stretch of the imagination there isn't any OMCG activity in the area," Snr Sgt Briese said.

"We will continue to target these persons."

EARLIER: POLICE have seized more than 2kg of ice and seven firearms from a man alleged to be a long-standing associate of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

Hervey Bay Criminal Investigation Branch detectives and officers from Taskforce Maxima were at Susan River on Tuesday searching a property on Settlers Road.

Taskforce Maxima was set up to help combat the spread of outlaw motorcycle gangs across Queensland.

A heavily armoured vehicle was also parked outside the Hervey Bay police station for the day.

More than 65 officers took part in the early morning search warrants which saw the seizure of 2kg of methyl amphetamine (or ice), meth oil and steroids.

Police also seized high powered illegal guns during the operations as well as two silencers.

One weapon was a loaded handgun.

A total of 15 search warrants were executed in the Fraser Coast region and all of the addresses are believed to be linked to the main offender.

Police have charged eight people with more than 32 charges.

A 35-year-old Susan River man has been charged with trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing illegal weapons.

He will appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

A total of $600,000 in property was also seized including a residence and motor vehicles.

Maryborough CIB Detective Senior Sergeant David Briese said seizing 2kg of ice meant about 20,000 hits were not making it to the streets.